Heroin Addiction Detox

What Are Some Signs of Heroin Use

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:01:00 +0000

You are at the right place if you need to learn about what some of the signs of heroin use may be. As a former heroin addict I can only tell you I know all the signs of a person who is on heroin. There are a couple different ways that heroin is ingested into the system with the two most popular ways being injecting with a hypodermic needle and sniffing the powder. The most obvious sign of heroin use would be track marks. These are definitely unmistakable. A person who has been using for some time will have scaring along their veins along with fresh needle marks called track marks.However, there are many other signs which this article will cover as well so you will be well educated as to what to look for..

Heroin addicts will usually try to cover any track marks up by wearing long sleeves or band aids.The most common area is on the arms and hands, some may use their legs, feet, in between toes, and neck. As a painter I would get paint over top of them so they could not be seen so easy. There is also two ways of injecting heroin as well. The one just covered is called mainlining which is injecting the drug into a vein. Some addicts that have trouble hitting veins will resort to skin popping which is just placing the needle under the surface of the skin and injecting just about anywhere. This will cause bruising and there is usually a small hole where the addict placed the hypodermic syringe into the skin. In addition both ways of injecting can cause abscesses which are infections on the surface of the skin going below the surface as well that are easy to spot. Abscesses from injecting heroin can be dangerous if not taken care of. Paraphernalia that you may want to look out for would be hypodermic needles, hypodermic needle caps (usually orange), spoons with residue or small piece of cotton in them, caps with residue or small piece of cotton in them, rope or balloon like material used to tie off and make any veins pop out for easy hitting with a syringe, water bottles for water.So really if you see a few caps or spoons in the same area as water bottles with something to tie off with, this may be paraphernalia if they are in a hidden spot and grouped together. Bent spoons are a sign as well since the spoon when placed on a surface is not level the addict will bend the spoon to make it level. Addicts can be very ingenious to protect and support their addiction so you must pay close attention for these types of signs.

As for the heroin addict that sniffs the drug there obviously will not be any track marks or paraphernalia used for injecting so their are other signs you must look out for. Cut straws, rolled dollar bills or any mirrors, magazines or flat surface that has powder smudges on it from the addict placing the heroin onto it to scrape into a pile for sniffing could be paraphernalia you may want to be on the look out for. As an addict I would have my paraphernalia kit usually in some sort of container whether it would be rolled up in a small hand towel or some sort of small box or just about any small container that I could easily stuff away and travel with ready for use at any time. The majority of those that sniff heroin will at some point try injecting heroin because as good as they feel when sniffing it they will usually find out that injecting it is even more powerful with extra feelings of euphoria. When copping the drug usually there are a group of people that go to cop together and eventually there will be someone in the crowd that injects the drug that is willing to show those that sniff how to inject for a better high. What usually happens next is the addict will experience this inflated high and wonder why they ever sniffed it in the first place. Plus a smaller amount is needed to reach the plateau they are looking for - at least in the beginning until their tolerance builds up.

Aside from paraphernalia there are many other signs of heroin use to look out for which I am about to cover. When an addict uses heroin there is an initial rush of euphoria they are looking for and then there is a very comforting mellow good feeling that continues after the initial rush. This mellow feeling is accompanied by feeling sleepy or what is referred to as nodding. This is what the addict using heroin is really looking for. All problems and worries at this stage of heroin use dissipates and the addict feels extremely good inside as if the world is perfect and all is well. I at one point was arrested for shoplifting and sitting in a jail cell at the police station. At the time I was very high and had this overwhelming feeling that felt so good and that everything around me was ok despite sitting in this jail cell. It is for this reason heroin addicts have a hard time quitting heroin or returning to it after periods of being clean. Of course their is the physical addiction as well the addict is terrified of going through if they quit using the drug but the mental part of it is just as strong as the physical part of the addiction.

When the addict reaches that plateau they begin to nodded in and out of consciousness and can have slurred speech as well.It is hard to tell whether or not the person is tired or high. The way to really tell is if the person does this all the time at weird times to actually be tired. So say it is the end of a work day and they are in a car on the way home from work and they begin to nod out it just may be they are tired and not high on heroin. But if it is 2pm and they have not worked and they are nodding out again after you have seen them do this three days in a row especially if they go out and come back and you have no way of knowing what they did while they were gone except that they are now nodding after coming back, that would be a good sign. Also when a person uses heroin their pupils will be pinned and very tiny even if it is in a dark room. Some people are easier to tell than others. I know when I would use my eyes would be pinned but I have small pupils to begin with and it was hard to tell, yet others it is extremely blatant. When an addict does heroin in the first hour of using it they become very talkative so if you have a very alert person who is extremely talkative then all of a sudden is nodding in and out of consciousness with slurred speech then it is quite possible they have been using heroin. Another tell tale sign is they become itchy and scratch all over the place especially the face area and mainly the nose. Once an addict has been using for quite some time they usually have to use a large amount of heroin to become itchy and scratch.

There are some mannerisms and routines a heroin addict will usually abide to as well that will contribute to recognizing some of the signs of heroin use. As a heroin addict they must maintain their habit or become sick. The sickness from not having heroin when you are addicted to it is extremely uncomfortable, painful, and down right unbearable. Once an addict is sick they literally cannot control the urge to use and will usually at any cost find a way to get the drug no matter who they hurt in the process. It is at this point the addict is truly under the spell of heroin. What you are witnessing is the devil in total control literally. It is sad some of the decisions addicts make when under the grip of the sickness caused by this drug. Many addicts go to jail for the actions they take just to get the sickness to go away. This is also the most vulnerable time for an addict and usually the time to intervene, if you plan on that, and get them to a detox for help. they are desperate and yet so helpless and hopeless. Once in detox they will receive medication to help with the withdrawals. An addict must get the drug every day so they will disappear every day to cop dope. So if the person you know disappears every day with an excuse as to where or why they need to go somewhere it is quite possible they are off to go get their dope. That coupled with nodding out when they got back would be a sure sign. Another sign would be if they were sick they will seem very off, like tired, sniffling, agitated (restless leg syndrome), sweaty, and a blank stare like dazed look, complaining they don't feel good or are weak or have the chills. Again this coupled with going out somewhere and coming back all of a sudden feeling better all talkative and then nodding out would be a sure sign of heroin use. Do not let your denial that the person would be actually using cloud what you may think they are doing. Pay close attention to the person and I guarantee you the signs will present themselves. You must never enable or help that person get their heroin because you will just be helping them to their grave. there are no addicts that I used with from years ago that are alive today. Every one of them has passed away at least 15 of them. I only know one that is clean today - well two if you include me. Please cut that person off immediately. get them out of our house and do not give them a dime, gas money or help of any kind. Everything and anything can be converted to fueling their addiction. Once they have nothing and they are sick it is then you can help them and you should help them get help. Start making phone calls o detoxes, rehabs, and professionals who know what is going on. You cannot handle this person on your own that is a guarantee. And trust me they need help professionally. Sad but very true you may go through this for quite some time before the person actually gets clean or seeks help. They may use again afterwords and probably will. All you can do is cut them off, let them know you love them and be willing to help them to go get help. You may be mad at this person for doing what they are doing and it is them doing it but reality is the drug is making them do what they are doing and their addiction. Addiction really is a disease and the person really does need help but they wont do that unless they are broken down and hitting bottom. Anything you do for them will keep them from hitting bottom so you must not do that. If you say help them with their rent 200 dollars, guess what that's 200 dollars they will use towards purchasing heroin. Below I will make a quick reference list of signs of heroin use.

Signs Of Heroin Use

Paraphernalia

Hypodermic Syringe
Spoons Or Caps With Residue Or Small Cotton In It
Bent Spoons
Tie Offs - String or Balloon Like Rubber Material
Razors Or Rolled Bills, Cut Straws, Mirrors With Smudges

Behaviors

Nodding In And Out Of Consciousness
Pinned Pupils
Talkative Then Nodding
Borrowing Money all the Time
Disappearing with Excuses Everyday Then Returning Nodding
Wearing Long Sleeves Even On Hot Days - Hiding Track Marks
Withdrawals - Sniffling, Sneezing, Weak, Chills, Feel Cold - Goes Out and Comes Back Miraculously Feeling Better
Itchy - Scratching Especially The Face and Mostly The Nose - Usually Will Be Nodding as Well

How Much Does Heroin Cost

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:15:00 +0000

Heroin known as a schedule III drug and extremely addictive can be purchased at very low prices making it easily obtainable. How much heroin costs does depend upon demographics however. In the cities the cost of heroin is extremely low while in the suburbs it can get a bit expensive. For this reason many people will travel to the cities to get the heroin. Another factor that can impact the cost of heroin is the quantity being purchased, the larger amount being purchased the cheaper the cost. Also, some states that are just not within the trade route of the heroin can see some steep inflated prices in which dealers can make huge profits.

The Cost Of Heroin In The Cities

Cities are where heroin can be obtained for very low prices because this is where large amounts can be sold by many dealers. Most of the drug trade in the cities are controlled by gangs. The gangs usually have connection to drug cartels who will ship very large amounts. Depending upon what city in what state will also determine what the price is. Like in Newark, New Jersey Heroin can be purchased anywhere from 8 dollars to 5 dollars for each glassine bag, however, when purchasing 10 bags called a 'bundle' the lower end of the pricing applies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania bags are 10 dollars yet when purchasing a bundle it sometimes will consist of twelve bags rather than ten.

The Cost Of Heroin In The Suburbs

Heroin in the suburbs can be considerably higher in cost because it is not as readily available like in the cities. In fact many people travel to the city to buy it and bring back to the suburbs to sell at some very high prices. In the suburbs heroin can cost 10 to 30 dollars a bag with 15 to 20 dollars a bag being most common. In addition to inflating the price dealers will further cut the drug to get more quantity resulting in even even higher profits.

The Cost Of Heroin In Inflated States

The prices in these states are very similar to the prices found in the suburbs, ranging from 10 to 30 dollars a bag.

The Cost Of Heroin In Jail

Here is where the largest profits are made due to the risks involved in getting the drug into the institution. The price of heroin in prisons run usually from 30 to 50 dollars a bag. Because of the high profits many corrections officers working at the facilities take the risk in smuggling in heroin.

As you can see there can be quite a difference in the cost of heroin dependin upon where the heroin is.

How Long Track Marks Last

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:07:00 +0000

There are many factors that will contribute to how long track marks last. Track marks are formed by an individual who has a drug dependence requiring repeated injections of the drug into a vein or veins. Usually the individual will continue to inject in the same spot over and over then moving along the length of the vein as it becomes difficult to get a hit in the same spot. The vein becomes hardened in each spot where multiple injections have occurred, as this happens the individual will usually move a little bit further down the length of the vain to where it is soft. Each previous spot becomes discolored and scarred. Since the injections have moved along the length of the vein scarring and discoloration occur along the length of the vein causing what is called a track mark.. How long track marks will last depend upon various factors such as, how long an individual continues to use, how healthy the individual is, and many more that we will discuss.

The reason an individual will inject the drug in the first place is mainly because of "First Pass Effect" (also known as first-pass metabolism or presystemic metabolism). This is when the drug bypasses the liver metabolism process that occurs and enters the systemic circulation directly rather than taking a drug orally where it must go through the liver and be processed before entering the systemic circulation causing a loss of some of the drug. therefore when injecting the individual will get more of the drug as well as a "rush" from the drug reaching the systemic circulation all at once. The addiction to the drug is usually physical and mental as well as a mental addiction to the injection process itself.

Blunt Syringes

Through many years of injecting intravenously on a daily basis will cause track marks. One of the variables involved in causing more severe scarring would be repeated injections with the same syringe where the tip has worn down and is blunt. If an individual has access to plenty of syringes and throws away each one after injecting one time would lessen the affect it will have on destroying the tissue and puncturing the vein.

Intravenous Miss

Another factor involved in causing more scarring is when injecting the individual misses the vein. When this happens there is damage that occurs to underlying tissue and vein as it is squeezed by the swelling in the injection site. When there is a miss small blister like bubbles appear around the injection site that become extremely itchy causing the individual to scratch the area thus intensifying more tissue destruction. There are a couple of different ways to inject a drug but these methods will cause bruising of the skin and muscle if done repeatedly everyday in the same area. the two methods are: "skin popping" (this where the syringe is placed just under the skin and injecting, not in a vein - this can cause abscesses) and "intramuscular injecting" (this is where the syringe is placed right into the muscle and injected - this can cause bruising of the skin and hardened muscles). Usually these methods are not used by addicted individuals because mainly it takes a bit of time to reach the systemic circulation where intravenous injections are direct and produce a much more intense high.

Hitting The Same Vein

When a user is injecting daily it is common to return to the same spot and vein since the individual knows they can get a sure hit. Using a different vein or spot can sometime be difficult to get a hit and misses happen at a higher rate. When a miss occurs the intense high is not met and there is a sense of failure just as if the individual may have spilled the drug on the floor. For this reason it is common for the individual to continue hitting the same spot where they will feel secure knowing they can get a hit into the vein without a problem. However, if the individual has prominent veins and a new syringe hitting a different vein and spot all of the time will minimize track marks. It is all of these things that will determine how long track marks will last. when enough scaring has occurred the track marks may last forever or may require some plastic surgery to reduce the way they look.

Heroin Withdrawal Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:36:00 +0000

There are many heroin withdrawal stories and I would like to share some of my own with you. I am a heroin addict and have been using heroin since I was 19 years old, 26 years ago. Life has had its ups and downs over those 26 years. I have had periods of being clean and periods of serving time in New Jerseys prison system. It has been one hell of a ride, one I wish upon nobody. This blog post may be offensive to some but all I hope is that it may touch someone and help them turn a different direction than I have, This I hope is one of the better heroin withdrawal stories you have read.

In the summer of 1985 I was living in an apartment in Somerville, New Jersey. I had lived a trouble life up to this point. I had already spent time in New Jersey's Juvenile Department of Corrections, Jamesburg and Yardville on 3 different occasions. It was a dark and lonely part of my life. I was 19 now and an adult. I seemed to be doing better, I was working in a restaurant and had an apartment. this would not last long however because I kept the same troubled friends and would drink and smoke weed all of the time. Cocaine was around often but I never liked the jones after it was gone.

One Day a friend came over the apartment and asked if I would like to try some heroin. Of course I did! I dreamed of trying heroin. It was the one drug I had not tried yet. I sniffed a bag and was high as hell. It was like a euphoric coke high but different and I didn't jones from it. Heroin it seemed was the best ultimate high I ever had. I felt soooo good! My friend and I got someone to drive to Brooklyn, New York the next day to get some more of this heroin. Wee copped in Greenpoint Brooklyn on South Second. It was a predominantly Spanish community and really not the safest place for some skinny white guys to be going. But this just added to the excitement of copping and getting high.

I remember parking the car around the corner from where the building was where they sold the dope and walking quickly to the building. It was next to the fire house and there were two Spanish guys who stood on the porch in the front of the building. They checked everyone who went in for weapons and to see if you might be a cop. Once inside you had to go to the back of the building and up two or three flights of stairs. There was always a line of junkies waiting to cop their dope in the line. The building was nasty and run down and really all you wanted to do was get your shit and get out of their before the cops would come because if the cops came the dope dealers would disappear and you would be stuck standing inthe building exposed to the cops. Once you got your turn the guy would be sitting on the stairs with a god awful amount of dope in these huge freezer bags. They would count out what you would want and hand it to you once you paid. After copping I would rush out and back to the car as quick as possible because I would want to get high immediately.

The dope was so good back then, just one bag would give you such a rush when you injected it. One day I had gone in to cop and got back out and into the car. We pulled off and got a block away when a cop pulls us over. Normally the cops take your shit, smack you around and tell you to beat it. Well, this day was different. This cop found bags on two of us but not the driver. He arrested me and a girl that was in the car with us. I had no idea what was about to happen. We were taken to central booking. In central booking they were smoking crack in the holding tanks and it just was a god awful stinky place. I began to feel sick from not using the dope as we were transfered to another jail. I was all clamy with nasty chills and the shits. There was a toilet in the bulltank that held about twenty of us. The toilet was so disgusting with dried shit and piss all over it. I had to force my self to get the shits out of me. That had to be the most fowl moment in my life. The guards would come by and say if anyone could not take care of their belongings to put it on the table because they didn't want to have to mop anybody up later. One guy had had some ciggarettes and about twenty people jumped him and beat the living pulp out of him just to take the cigarettes, I was so sick, weak, couldn't sleep , cold and just feeling so nasty. I wish I could have just died. For five days I was in this jail in Brooklyn where I finally went to court. I felt as if a train had hit me by this time, I went in front of the judge and was given time served and a hundred dollar fine, They let me loose,

26 years of this kind of nonsense is what I have dealt with. Over the next 26 years I have gone to various county jails and have had to cold turkey heroin each time. I also was given an 11 year state prison sentence which I served 6 years of. I did get clean one time and stayed clean for 8 years. During those 8 years my life was pretty good. I got married, started a Business, bought a condo, then a very large house. I had a daughter who I loved to death. Then One day I decided to pick up again. I lost my house , my family and everything right down to the clothes on my back - literally. For the past 5 years I have struggled with a heroin habit again. I ended up spending time in Essex County jail in Newark New Jersey for almost a year after getting popped with a brick of dope. The jail was riddled with gangs and just entire chaos. Jail now is nothing like it used to be. It sucks!!!! I have yet to beat my addiction but want to so bad but it just has such a grip on my pant leg. Pray for me. I hope no person has to go through all the things I have. It is a dark cold lonely journey. I have more heroin withdrawal stories but I'll leave you with this one for now.

What Are The Symptoms Of Heroin Use

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:42:00 +0000

If you are a parent or friend of someone who may be using heroin you may be asking, " What are the symptoms of heroin use " ? Heroin is a very destructive drug that completely takes over a person who is addicted to it. Heroin is physically addictive as well as mentally addictive, and one of the most difficult drugs to get off of. Many of those who successfully get off of heroin have returned to using it again even years later. But to know if someone is using it, "what are the symptoms of heroin use", needs to be answered.

The first thing to know about heroin use is that this is a drug that must be used every day in order for the addict to function otherwise they will become very "sick". This is a result of withdrawals from not using heroin. Withdrawals from heroin occur within 24 hours from the last use. The need to use heroin everyday means the addicted individual must take time out to get this drug every day as well as come up with the money to "cop", or buy the drug, which can become very expensive as the tolerance increases and higher doses are required to feel the drug.

Because the addict needs to cop heroin everyday they will need to make excuses to explain where they are going. If the addict lives in the city then copping can be fairly quick but for those in the suburbs that have to travel to the city areas, need to disappear for 2 or 3 hours everyday. So one sign of heroin use is an individual that is constantly having to disappear to go cop. Now this sign alone is not enough to say for sure so you will need to look for more signs.

There will be a need for money all of the time. A bag of heroin cost anywhere from 5 dollars up to 20 dollars. In the early stages of heroin use one or two bags may be good enough, but as time goes by ten, twenty or even more bags will be needed. So even at ten bags of heroin a day ( called a bundle of heroin or dope), the cost will be 50 dollars or more plus the gas or cost of travel to get the heroin. The addicted individual will use whatever money they have as well as turn to family members for money. They will usually manipulate family and friends into giving them money by telling them lies, such as they got a flat tire and need money for a tire, n They addicted person will also steal things to pay for their habit. So lots of excuses to borrow money, missing money or items and the person constantly being broke is another sign of heroin use.

Because the addicted persons life becomes consumed with heroin they will begin to hang around others who also use heroin. They share a common ground and can help each other feed their habits. One may have a car the other more money, so one will buy the other heroin for taking them to get the heroin. The addicted individual will begin to have a couple new friends around and spend less time with friends that they have had all along. a change of friends may be a sign of heroin use.

Some heroin addicts sniff the dope and some will inject the dope. Those that sniff may leave rolled up bills or paper in the shape of a straw or shortened straws may be laying around. Those injecting heroin will need needles and a cap or spoon to mix the dope which then a piece of cotton is placed in it which the mixture is then filtered through as it is sucked up into the needle. A lot of times the small cotton pieces can come from the filter of a cigarette. So signs of heroin injection will be spoons or caps with small cottons in them, needles, and cigarettes which have a small piece of the filter torn from it. the most telling sign would be track marks from continual injections on the skin. The most common spot for track marks are on the arms, could be legs, ankles, or feet. Most heroin addicts that inject into their arms will always have long sleeves on or something to hide track marks.

When a person uses heroin they will experience body changes. The changes that occur are small pupils even when dark out, called pinned eyes. They will have slow or slurred speech and nodding may occur. Nodding is when they close their eyes and look as if they are very tired and falling asleep. In the beginning stages of heroin addiction itching can be a sign as well, this later goes away.

So to sum up everything for the question, "What are the symptoms of heroin use" There is a list below. If there is a number of the signs listed below or talked about above noticeable an individual then there is a good chance they may be using or addicted to heroin.

Signs of Heroin Use

Missing money or items
Borrowing money all of the time
Broke all of the time
Daily excuses for disapearances
Change of friends
Needles
Cigarettes with small pieces missing from the filter
Caps or spoons with small cotton pieces in them
Wearing long sleeves all of the time
Track marks
Pinned eyes
Nodding
Itching

I hope who ever you suspect of using heroin is not for their sake. It is a devastating drug and one that most never successfully ever get off of. Overdose occurs often and usually when the person has been clean then picks up again thinking they can tolerate larger doses like they had once before. I also hope that anyone who reads this never even needs to ask or know, " what are the signs of heroin use."

Scar Laser Treatment for Track Marks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:23:00 +0000

Needle track marks can scar person’s arms for years and even for life and can be helped with laser treatment. These scars can cause embarrassment and are a constant reminder of where that person has been in his or her past drug addiction. There are ways to improve these scars to be less visible. You do not need to suffer for something you do not do anymore and hiding or removing needle track marks with laser treatment could be beneficial to your well being.

Having to wear long sleeves all the time and having noticeable scars were your veins are is definitely not very appealing. Especially while going on job interviews or within the company of friends. There are creams that can help and many different ways to hid the scars, but probably the best way is through scar laser treatment.

You could use vitamin e or scar removal crèmes to help in healing track mark scars from injecting drugs over and over. This may help some but will not remove the scar. Laser treatments are probably the best way or best chance of completely removing the scars. Usually there will be multiple laser treatment sessions that can get very costly. Sometimes this may not work or even worsen the scar but this is something you will need to discuss with your doctor.

Once choosing a doctor you will need the funds to pay for these treatments which usually are done over multiple sessions. These sessions can each be very expensive ranging in the hundreds of dollars. Make sure you have enough money to cover all of the sessions or you will have a half done scar laser treatment and your track marks will still be there just as noticeable as ever.

Each type of scar requires a different type of laser removal. Your scar must be diagnosed and looked at by a dermatologist qualified in laser scar removal. You may want to see a couple of doctors to determine which will be the best one for your situation as well. So no longer do you need to live with the ugly scars of your past drug use and getting those track marks removed with scar laser treatment will definitely improve the quality of life.

Suboxone Side Effect Symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:41:00 +0000

After two years of being on suboxone and staying clean at times and going back to heroin at others i have finally decided it was time to reduce my suboxone dosage which has caused me some suboxone side effect symptoms. I was using 16 mg a day of suboxone and dropped it down to about 4 mg. Once that had occurred I found myself going and copping heroin to get high. This was some months ago. I played a game of cat and mouse with suboxone and heroin at first, going from suboxone to using heroin for a week and back to suboxone. The suboxone then became an enabler to my heroin addiction in which I never suffered withdrawal symptoms. I am now on a steady 2mg a day of suboxone for quite some time and am suffering some suboxone side effect symptoms.

When I awake in the mornings I have sweat all over me. The worst is it collects inside of my ear.I feel cold and yucky, but about an hour after being awake I feel fine. Upping the dosage has helped but the idea is to get off of the suboxone. Since it has been many weeks since lowering the dosage to 2 mg it does not have any correlation to a dosage amount that has been recently reduced. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with taking suboxone for so long.

My doctor prescribes me two months at a time so it will be awhile before I go back again. If there are other folks who have been on suboxone for long periods of time it would be great to hear how you have made out I would like to lower the dosage to 1 mg a day very soon. Hopefully this will not effect me even worse. I just want to be off of this stuff as soon as possible.

It becomes difficult to split down the suboxone pills once I get to 1 mg. I would like to get to 0.5 mg over the next month. it is at this level where I plan to jump off. I am sure I will feel quite fidgety at that time. The last time I jumped off of suboxone the fidgety stuff lasted 6 days. I just hope the suboxone side effect symptoms do not last me too long.

Needle Exchange Programs Help Reduce Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Needle exchange programs have been put in place to help with the safe disposal of needles among heroin addicts and other intravenous drug users. With the spread HIV Aids and Hepatitis C at an alarming rate the needle exchange programs helps reduce the sharing of needles by providing sterile and safe to use needles to heroin addicts and other intravenous users who otherwise have no means or access to new and clean needles.

Diseases like HIV Aids and Hepatitis C which are blood borne diseases are very common among injection drug users. These users are at a very high risk of contracting these diseases with 34 % of all HIV Aids being attributed to intravenous drug use and 75% of all new cases being attributed. Zero tolerance drug policies which make needles a crime to posses have resulted in the reuse and sharing of syringes making the problem even worse.

Around 36 states participate in the 185 needle exchange programs in the county allowing drug users to exchange and receive needles that are new and clean. It has been shown that states that have allowed for needle exchange programs and decriminalized possessing syringes have shown significant decreases in the sharing of needles. Some states have as well allowed for the sale of syringes at pharmacies without the need for a prescription.

Needle exchange programs have shown to actually help reduce these blood borne diseases in addition to being able to help heroin or other intravenous drug users find and get help for their drug problems as well. Interestingly, the few states that do not participate in needle exchange programs and still have not decriminalized possession of needles show some of the nations highest cases of blood borne diseases. The federal Government, who funds more HIV programs and prevention programs than any other entity, refuses to fund needle exchange programs despite the fact that it is known to help reduce blood borne diseases like HIV Aids and Hepatitis C.

Aside from needle exchange programs and sales of syringes through pharmacies there are also doctors who can prescribe syringes which can also help in the reduction or spread of disease. Physician prescription of syringes also can provide a vehicle to drug treatment facilities and referrals for other health care services for the heroin or drug addict. Again though, there are few states that allow for the dispensing of sterile syringes through a prescription by a physician.

Heroin Withdrawal Promising New Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Heroin Withdrawals and New Medicines that are being studied may soon come to the market. Many young school children are becoming addicted to heroin with alarming amounts of overdoses and deaths. This may be the reason for an ever increasing interest in drug companies to study medications that can remove the withdrawl effects of the heroin so these young kids can get off of the “Dope”. Until recently there have not been too many options for those who were “Hooked” on heroin. Mainly, Methadone Treatment has been the preferred way to treat heroin withdrawls. However, over the past few years there have been new treatments and medications that have shown great promise and hope for those hooked on heroin with more studies still in trials. One such study shows one Promising New Treatment where the patient receives one injection that lasts 6 weeks and will experience no heroin withdrawls.

Heroin addiction suboxone treatment, another promising new treatment, which contains Buprenorphine and Naloxone has been a very popular new medicine used for the treatment of heroin withdrawls. It has proven to be very effective and patients can be off of heroin within a few weeks without the withdrawl effects associated with stopping heroin abuse. Some highlights of Suboxone are: it does not need to be dispensed at a facility approved by the government such as Methadone, it is not as tightly regulated like methadone, it can be prescribed by a physician, it has little abuse potential, and does not cause overdose if it is abused. Naloxone is the ingredient that prevents a patient from trying to abuse the medicine by causing heavy withdrawl effects if the drug is injected. Buprenorphine is the ingredient that is a partial opiate used as a painkiller but can also remove any withdrawls caused by heroin. Because it is a partial opiate if too much is taken it cannot cause overdose. This leads to less stringent regulation of the medicine and can be taken home by the patient, unlike methadone which must be dispensed daily at the methadone clinic. Because of less stringent regulations patients who do not have access to methadone clinics, or have to travel very far to get to a clinic daily, can now simply go to a physician and take the Suboxone home.

Other studies are showing promise in the treatment of heroin withdrawls such as one study where the patient receives one injection of Buprenorphine which lasts up to six weeks. Once the injection is given the patient experiences no withdrawls and becomes free of the heroin. Researchers at Johns Hopkins published the study where five opiate dependent volunteers received a single injection of 58 mg of Buprenorphine and were assessed for four weeks for any signs of opiate withdrawal. This was done first residentially then as outpatient. None of the patients required any additional medication for withdrawal relief. Heroin withdrawal has definitely some very promising new treatments coming in the near future.

See also:

Heroin Addiction Aftercare Programs

Heroin Addiction Detox Aftercare Programs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:15:00 +0000

Heroin Addiction Detox Aftercare programs play a very important role in keeping a patient who has gone through detox or rehab from relapsing. There are many different types of after care programs, usually referred to as outpatient programs. Some involve just substance abuse counseling or drug counseling, others involve group therapies and they can vary from once a week to five days a week. While in aftercare programs patients can be on the methadone program, suboxone, or many other types of medication to help them stay clean until they can get a start in the right direction.

Heroin Addiction and detox are usually not enough for the patient to make it and not relapse because detox is usually a few short days. Over the years health insurances are not willing to pay for very long when it comes to inpatient drug or substance abuse rehabilitation. This leaves the patient to make it on their own after detox.

Depending upon how much and how long a patient has been abusing heroin or other opiates will determine what type of aftercare treatment program will best benefit the individual. Part of the role in detox is to set the patient up with the correct aftercare and contact the facility so that upon their release from detox they can attend right away.

There is regular substance abuse counseling where the patient will attend one or two sessions a week with a substance abuse counselor. Once the patient has some time away from the heroin they will begin to lead a normal life and have safeguards in place to help them from relapsing, such as AA or Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.

There is also group therapy where there are sessions held with multiple patients who help each other out in a group session. This can occur anywhere from one to five days a week. Most time this is coupled with counseling sessions and called intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment. Patients are usually encouraged to attend AA or NA meetings as well.

With the help of these aftercare programs once a patient has detoxed from heroin is very important and adds to the success of patients not relapsing.

Spot Signs of Drug Relapse

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:12:00 +0000

What are the warning signs and how can you spot signs of drug relapse? There are many symptoms that accompany drug relapse that are sometimes hard to spot. If you have a loved one who has had problems with drugs in the past or has been through a drug rehab you may want to be aware of any signs or symptoms of a relapse. If caught early on there is a better chance for that person to get back on track whether they have actually had a drug relapse or not.

Addicts have a disease and always need to maintain that disease, just as one would if they had diabetes. There have been studies done showing that as many as 54% of those recovering from addiction experience a relapse at one point or another. Sometime addicts back off on the maintenance of their disease, such as going to AA Meetings, and start to slowly slip backwards. This may not even be intentional but occurs when life starts to fill up with all the rewards of staying sober. Before they know it they are in trouble and a relapse may occur. The symptoms and signs may actually start to occur before the relapse actually happens, so paying attention to your loved ones behaviors can possibly save them before having a drug relapse.

Most likely there will be counseling sessions and AA or NA Meetings that are being attended to daily. As life gets better and time starts to fill up with many things such as; going back to school, starting a family, getting involved in many activities. Sometimes these things make it difficult to show up at AA Meetings daily. As this happens the recovering addict starts to slowly and unintentionally slip away from their involvement of these things.

You may notice changes in the persons behaviors and attitudes. When confronted the recovering addict does not even notice this happening and usually will attribute it to other things such as a bad week. It becomes difficult to get back in the groove of things again so it is important to support them in going that direction.

Here are some things to watch out for:

Stopping medications
Hanging out with old friends
Isolating
Failing to follow treatment plans
Setting unrealistic goals
Changes in eating, sleeping, and energy levels
Dwelling on past issues
Avoiding things
Boredom

There are many symptoms to watch for and to spot signs of s drug relapse can sometimes be tricky.

Suboxone Blocking Dosage Amount

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:12:00 +0000

Suboxone blocking dosage is the dosage amount that will block other opiates from causing a euphoric effect on the person trying to use heroin or other opiate while on suboxone. The important factor of suboxone having a blocking effect is so the patient who should have a relapse will find that it was not worth the effort and they can easily bounce back on track with their program.

When beginning a suboxone treatment the patient is usually inducted to the program with Subutex or has started while in withdrawals from heroin or other opiate. The dosage amount usually is determined by how much heroin or opiates the patient has been using. However, suboxone has a blocking effect at only certain dosages.

Usually 8mg is a day is an amount that will cause blocking of any heroin or opiates that may be used. This affords the patient time away from the drug long enough to get the help they need. Once the patient has had some time away from the heroin or other opiate then the dosage amount can be reduced to a point where the patient can get off of the suboxone as well.

Some patients when relapsing may feel some withdrawal effects as well if they use to soon after taking suboxone. For the most part the acting drug in suboxone responsible for that is called Nalaxone. This drug is meant to keep the patient from trying to abuse the suboxone more than cause the patient withdrawals because they had a relapse. However, it does add a bit more of a deterrent to any possible relapse. For the most part the right dosage amount that causes the blockage of heroin or other opiate usually is enough to deter further relapses because there is no reward payoff in the relapse.

For more info on Heroin addiction and treatment:Heroin Addiction Residential Treatment

Heroin Detoxification and Types of Treatment

Rapid Detox Treatment Dangers

Heroin Treatment Methadone Treatment

Heroin Addiction Suboxone Treatment

Heroin Addiction History

Heroin Addiction Residential Inpatient Treatments 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:21:00 +0000

Heroin addiction and the choice of using residential inpatient treatment is probably going to be the best choice an addict can make to ensure they do not relapse. Studies show that inpatient treatment of more than three months has the best results (DATOS – Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies ) interestingly the study shows that heroin addicts who were still in OMT after1 year (outpatient methadone treatment) were using far less heroin than those who left the program after a year. “Client sub samples with longer retention in long-term residential programs and in outpatient methadone treatment had significantly better outcomes than those with shorter lengths of stay (results were inconclusive for outpatient drug-free programs because of sample limitations).“

Types of Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Programs and Length of Stay

There are a variety of Residential Inpatient Treatment programs to choose from. There are mainly two types of treatment; short term and long term. Short term residential inpatient substance abuse treatment programs generally are from 28 days to 90 days. Insurances can dictate the length of stay for a patient which the facility usually will work around to benefit the patient as best as they can should their insurance allow a stay of only 2 weeks. Long term residential inpatient substance abuse treatment programs can be anywhere from 90 days on up to 2 years. The approach between the two treatments can be quite different.

Other Types of Residential Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Other types of residential inpatient substance abuse residential treatment programs are available as well but are not as popular or are only partially inpatient. One that is not as popular is religious residential substance abuse programs that base the recovery more on religion. Another more popular type of residential inpatient residential substance abuse treatment program is called a “Half Way House”. This type of treatment involves treatment in the facility and out of the facility. Residents usually are working and can go home on weekends and Holidays. Longer term residential inpatient substance abuse treatment programs use this approach for patients who are nearing their term at the facility to slowly introduce them back into the communities.

Long Term Residential Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Approach

The approach the Long term residential inpatient substance abuse treatment programs take can vary. There are Biophysical, behavioral modification, religious, and those that focus on AA (Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Step Recovery).

Long Term Behavioral Modification Programs

Behavioral modification programs focus on breaking the addicted patient’s character down by humiliation and various forms of ridicule, once the patient is broken down they then try to build the patient back up. Shaving patient’s heads, wearing diapers, and wringing out mops by hand all day are not uncommon practices at these facilities. This type of treatment is based on the Pavlovian idea that man can change his actions based upon stimulus and response. Many patients do not make it through this type of program and end up leaving to hold their dignity together. The success rate is very low and this type of program does not work well. They are becoming less popular. These programs can be up to two years in length and some use a slow integration back into the community allowing them to attend AA meetings and work on the outside as well as visits back home near the end of the patients treatment.

Long Term Religious Programs

These types of programs usually have a long waiting list and are difficult to get into. They are based mostly on religious beliefs and try to fill the addictive void of spiritual belief. This approach again has very low results as with many approaches.

Long Term 12 Step Programs

This type of program is most popular and has only slightly higher results than other approaches. It is based on AA (Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Recovery). It usually will incorporate after treatment plans such as counseling.

Long Term Biophysical Programs

This is a newer type of treatment that is springing up everywhere. The claim is it has very high results. There are many parts of the body that is damaged when taking drugs and this incorporates many of the other approaches but brings the body back to health quicker through vitamins and other ways of removing toxins from the body enabling the addict to think a bit clearer. Sometimes addicts suffer many psychological issues that do not enable them to get the full benefit of what they are learning when stopping heroin use or other drugs.

Heroin Treatment Residential Inpatient Treatments are definitely better than outpatient treatments and provide better results.

For more info on various treatments see the links below.

Heroin Detoxification and Other Types of Treatments

Rapid Detox Treatment Dangers

Heroin Treatment Methadone

Heroin Addiction Suboxone

Heroin Addiction History

Heroin Detoxification and Types of Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:18:00 +0000

Heroin detoxification and types of Treatment facilities is a difficult but important decision an addict must take if they want to get clean. Heroin is one of the most difficult drugs to get off of and stay off of because of the effects it has on the brain and its physically addictive nature. Science, medication and advanced treatments have come a long way in helping treat heroin addicts and them to continue living happy sober lives. Heroin detoxification and types of treatment will enables the heroin addict to withdrawal from the heroin and lend time to the addict to learn how to live without it.

Heroin is very widespread among young folks now, more so than years ago. These young folks come from mostly middle class families.

Heroin stimulates the “Pleasure System” in the brain. The system involves Neurons that use neurotransmitters called “Dopamine”. The Neurons project to Nucleus Accumbens which then project to the Cerebral Cortex. It is other neurotransmitters systems that use endorphins that are responsible fore the withdrawals felt when heroin is stopped.

Once in the brain Heroin is converted to morphine by enzymes. The morphine then binds to opiate receptors in the brain that are part of the reward pathway in the brain which consists of the Cerebral Cortex, VTA,, Nucleus Accumbens, and the Thalamus. Morphine also binds to areas in the pain pathway of the brain which consists of the Thalamus, Brain Stem, and Spinal Cord. Three types of Neurons participate in the opiate action; one releases dopamine, a neighboring terminal that contains GABA, and the post-synaptic cell containing dopamine receptors. Opiates bind to opiate receptors on the neighboring terminal which sends a signal to send more Dopamine. Heroin therefore causes more Dopamine to be sent than needed causing excessive pleasure and blockage of pain.

The neurons over time have been used to this so when the Heroin has been stopped the person feels withdrawal symptoms for a few days, this can be quite unbearable and one big reason why Heroin addicts fail to stop using. There are some long term effects on the neurons that also can affect the addict and cause depression and anxiety for months afterwards.

Heroin detoxification in inpatient treatment facilities can help the patient withdrawal with little or no withdrawal symptoms through various medicines. There are different types of treatment facilities which patients can enter. Unfortunately insurances can make it very difficult for addicts to seek these types of treatments, and because of the very expensive cost often addicts are left to self destruct and have nothing left. It is then that there are state programs to pick up the tab or indigent spaces in these facilities. The insurance issues are a subject for another article which I am sure to publish soon. The four types of facilities are; Detox Units, Short Term Rehabilitation, and Long Term Rehabilitation and Outpatient Treatments. Outpatient treatments consist of two types which are Intensive Outpatient Treatment and traditional Outpatient Treatment.

Detox Units are often found in Hospitals but can be found in many Rehabilitation Facilities as well. The length of stay in these Units is usually 2 to 10 days. The Units are usually locked facilities but the patient does have the right to leave if they want to. The sole purpose is to detox the patient from the drug they are on through medications. The Units are staffed with nurses, doctors, therapists and counselors. This step of detoxification from heroin is very important because it is where the patient will detoxify the drug from there body and the staff will start to work with the patient in planning the treatment they will receive afterwards. Again, depending upon the patients insurance will determine where the patient will go. Sometimes the staff is working with the patient on this or they may have the patients family involved, and at times they will be working with Courts, Family Services, Probation Departments and other agencies. What happens with the patient afterwards is very important because just getting off of Heroin is usually not enough for the patient to remain free of Heroin for long. The patient needs to learn about their addiction and modify the way their brain thinks and learn to cope with things they have not for a long time.

Later articles about heroin addiction and the types of treatment facilities will get in depth on what each of those facilities have to offer and how they will lend a hand in giving a heroin addict the best shot at leading a Sober Life.

Rapid Detox Treatment Dangers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:42:00 +0000

Rapid Detox Treatment Dangers have been reported on many occasions and can have some severe implications. Some of the Rapid Detox Treatment Dangers include, death, extreme severe withdrawal pain. Rapid Detox Treatment Dangers are not portrayed at all by the clinics that provide them and their advertisements usually lay claim that there is no suffering of withdrawal with the Rapid Detox Treatment and that patients will have a high likelihood of staying clean from opiates afterwards. One such study shows this is not the case providing data from actual.

Rapid Detox Treatment Danger: Study

The following Info was found at StraightFromTheDoc.com Dangers of Rapid Detox

A recent study from JAMA shows the dangers:

"But the technique can be life-threatening, is not pain-free and has no advantage over other methods, a new study of 106 patients found.

The study, the most rigorous to date on the method, showed that patients' withdrawal was as severe as those of addicts undergoing other detox approaches.

The study appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

Patients underwent withdrawal when they awoke, even though they were given additional medications for withdrawal symptoms that included anxiety, insomnia, achy muscles and joints, diarrhea and vomiting.

Three of 35 anesthesia patients suffered life-threatening events, despite painstaking safety measures.”

Rapid Detox Treatment Claims

Rapid Detox Treatment also known as Ultra Rapid Detox Treatment is way of detoxifying a person addicted to heroin or opiates in a concentrated period of 10 hours time, normally this can take up 5 to 6 days, without the discomfort linked to opiate withdrawal.

Patients can suffer extremely difficult withdrawals for 5 to 6 days when trying to quit opiate drugs they are dependent upon, such as heroin. Without the help of medication many fail to make it through the seemingly impossible withdrawal period causing patients to give up.

Rapid Detoxification also known as Ultra Rapid Detoxification is usually completed in one day. The patient is placed under general anesthesia for 4 to 6 hours at which time the patient will receive intravenous naloxone, medication that eliminates opiates from the body very quickly.

Apparently, once awake the patient is then free from opiates and ready to return to normal life in a couple of days. Then there is a claim that over 65 percent of the patients who are treated remain drug free after one year.

Rapid Detox Treatment Dangers: Reported Deaths

There are many cases in which deaths have occurred relating to Rapid Detox Treatments. One such article (The Dangers Of rapid Detox Drug Treatment) at Poppies.org explains this.

Summary

It is quite obvious that there needs to be more studies on using Rapid Detoxification Treatment Dangers and using it as a way of detoxifying heroin or opiate addict. There are other methods that have been in existence for quite some time such as Methadone Treatment and Suboxone Treatment.

Heroin Treatment: Methadone Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:54:00 +0000

Heroin addiction treatment with methadone is relatively safe under physician care and has been used for the past 30 years. Treatment for heroin addiction goes far back in the heroin treatment history timeline many centuries. Heroin releases dopamine which then occupies the opioid receptors in the brain. The addict constantly needs to have these receptors filled or they suffer withdrawal symptoms. Methadone also occupies these receptors but stabilizes the patient so that the behaviors associated with heroin do not occur.

The effect of the methadone will last between 24 and 36 hours unlike heroin which is only 4 to 12 hours. This allows the methadone to be taken orally once a day. Methadone will also block any opiate used by the patient so they cannot feel the euphoric rush associated with heroin. Because methadone does not produce any euphoric feelings or make the patient drowsy it is safe for the patient to go about their daily lives working and driving.

Ultimately the patient will remain opiate dependant on the methadone. Withdrawal from methadone takes a much longer time, and because of this the patient can be maintained many years (Methadone Maintenance Treatment – MMT) without the harsh side effects.

Methadone maintenance treatment is an individualized personal treatment that is dispensed with a prescription through the care of a physician in clinical methadone treatment centers. It is estimated that 20 percent of the heroin addicts are on a methadone maintenance treatment program. Federal regulations restrict the use and availability of methadone with strict protocols; in addition, most States closely monitor the clinics and the distribution of prescriptions. However in 1999 Department of Health and Human Services released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making for the use of methadone (NPRM). This gives more flexibility of the patient’s clinical physician a little more freedom to make choices in the treatment of their patients.

As time goes on more studies and advances are being made, Heroin addiction treatment with methadone is now not the only method used for treatment of opiate addicted patients there is heroin addiction treatment with suboxone that has emerged just recently as a few years. You may also want to take a look at the new Suboxone Treatment now available in the USA.

Heroin Addiction: Suboxone Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:50:00 +0000

Heroin Addiction treatment with suboxone has been very successful over the past few years, and only recently has been used in the United States as a detoxification medicine. Suboxone is combination of buprenorphine and buprenorphine HCI and naloxone HCI dihydrate. Buprenorphine was originally to control pain ‘Subutex’ (without the naloxone) and was available as an injectable drug though out the United States. It has been used as an opiate detoxification medication through out Europe since the middle 1980’s and was available in the form of a tablet.

Suboxone comes as a sublingual (dissolves under the tounge) orange tablet in the shape of a hexagon. It ratio of 4:1 Suboxone: Naloxone. The naloxone was added to deter addicts from abusing suboxone as an injectable drug. If an addict tries to inject suboxone they would become very sick because the naloxone removes opiates from the receptors causing withdrawls.

Suboxone is not a full opiate and is partial agonist therefore making it impossible to overdose on. This renders the drug as a safe way to detox from heroin or other opiates and in turn regular liscenced physicians can prescribe this medicine to their patients to keep at home. In addition the drug will block any opiates the addict may try to use so they cannot feel the drugs effects. This enables the addict to get back on track fairly quickly if they should have a relapse.
Unlike its counterpart methadone, suboxone is much easier for opiate dependants to detox safely and without suffering the effects of withdrawl fairly quickly. Suboxone can be used as a maintenance treatment in which the addict stays on the drug for an extended period of time eliminating the need to return to their opiate addiction. Heroin Addiction Treatments with methadone can work well for most opiate addicts but the problem is getting them off of the methadone. Methadone is usually used as a maintenance treatment.

Suboxone comes in 2mg, 4mg, and 8mg tablets making it easy for doctors to prescibe amounts that are necessary and then to eventually decrease the suboxone until the a is completely off of the suboxone and opiate free. You may also want to take a look at methadone treatment as way of treating an opiate or heroin addiction.

Heroin Addiction History

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:41:00 +0000

Heroin, which is a very popular drug of choice in the American drug culture today, is not a new drug that just showed up in the late 1960’s nor is its negative effects unique to modern times. Heroin is an opium derivative and, as with any opium derivative, there is severe physical and mental dependency that develops when it is abused.

As long ago as 3400 B.C., the opium poppy was cultivated in lower Mesopotamia. The Sumerians’ knowledge of cultivating poppy was passed on to the Assyrians, Babylonians, and finally, the Egyptians. Interestingly enough, there is even evidence from excavations that the Neanderthals used poppy seeds.

Some where around 330 B.C. Alexander the Great introduced opium to the people of Persia and India, where poppies were grown in large quantities. By 400 A.D, opium thebaicum was introduced to China by Arab traders.

It was not until the 15th Century that residents of Persia and India began consuming opium mixtures recreationally, a practice that turned opium into a major product in an expanding intra-Asian trade. Under the reign of Akbar between 1556 and 1605, the Mughal state of North India relied upon opium land as a major source of revenue.

The history of the opium trade involves almost all of the costal European nations, Portugal, Spain, France, Holland and the UK. They exported opium from India to China, competing with the Arab and Indian merchants who had been using this trade route for many years.

It was not until 1700 that the British introduced China to the process of mixing opium with tobacco so that it could be smoked. This was to about to drastically change the amount of opium consumed by the Chinese in a huge way. With nearly 2 million pounds of opium being sold in China each year, it was creating an epidemic that the government tried to control ending in opium wars.

In the 1800’s during the American Civil War, soldiers used morphine freely, and those that had been wounded returned home with their kits of morphine and hypodermic needles. In 1866 the Secretary of War stated that during the war the Union Army was issued 10 million opium pills, over 2,840,000 ounces of other opiate preparations such as laudanum or paregoric, and almost 30,000 ounces of morphine. The result of all this earned opium addiction to be referred to as the 'army disease' or the 'soldier's disease.'

Diacetylmorphine was first synthesized in 1874 by C.R. Alder Wright. He had been working with finding a non-addictive form of opium. In 1897, Felix Hoffman produced two new compounds for the company he worked for, Bayer. These compounds were acetylsalicylic acid and diacetylmorphine. By 1899, Bayer was producing around a ton of heroin each year, and exporting it to some 23 countries. The country in which the drug did extremely well in was the US, where there was a large population of morphine addicts already existing, a over zealous market for patent medications, and almost no regulatory rules in place.

Interesting to note is heroin received its name from the very people who were testing it as they said it made them feel heroic. Bayer eventually saw the issues heroin was creating by the amount of people being admitted to hospitals for recreational use of the drug and stopped producing the drug in 1913. People were scrapping metal to be able to afford their habits giving rise to the term ‘junkie’. The following year use of heroin without a prescription was outlawed and then by 1919 a court ruling determined that it would be illegal to prescribe heroin to addicts. Then in 1924 the use and manufacturing of heroin was banned in the US. However in Britain the medical use of heroin continues today and accounts for 95 percent of the world’s legal consumption.

For information on treating heroin or opiate addictions you can visit methadone treatment, suboxone treatment, or rapid detox treatment dangers.